The City of S.t Petersburg understands the effect of supporting and nurturing the growth of women-owned businesses in wealth-creating and ensuring the overall wellbeing of the economy. For this reason, the City supports women entrepreneurs by availing them opportunities and resources to help them thrive. Keep reading for more information.
The Greenhouse S.t Petersburg
The Greenhouse S.t Petersburg is committed to supporting women-owned small businesses through counseling, entrepreneurial, and other support services and resources to help them achieve success. The organization is also a home for offices of various loan products that provide funding support to improve the financial health of women-owned businesses in the City of S.t Petersburg. Visit http://stpetegreenhouse.org/ to have access to the services and resources to make your business thrive.
Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)
The Florida Manufacturing Extension Partnership is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing support to female manufactures and business owners to help them thrive in the global market. The organization comprises lean experts that train women manufacturers on enhanced productivity skills and how to eliminate waste and improve efficiency in their business operations. They are also trained in problem-solving skills, team building, and logistics experts. MEP runs programs, which offer funding support to help women-owned manufacturing companies and other businesses implement more efficient management strategies. Visit https://www.floridamakes.com/ for more information.
Southern Technology Applications Center (STAC)
The Southern Technology Applications Center provides support to women entrepreneurs in the tech industry to help them grow and achieve business success. The organization provides training on technology management skills to both women-owned startups and already existing companies. Please visit http://www.state.fl.us/stac/.
Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP)
SATOP program is dedicated to providing no-cost technical support to women-owned businesses in Florida. The program trains female entrepreneurs on technical skills and provides applied technology and expertise to both startups and established businesses. For more details, please visit http://www.spacetechsolutions.com/.
Export Assistance Center
The mission of the Export Assistance Center is to help women-owned businesses develop international trade. How do they help? They offer training and counseling services on international trade, marketing your goods and services in the global market, and the existing government regulations, and financing. Find out more at http://www.commerce.gov/states/florida.html.
Mayor’s Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program
The Mayor’s Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program provides funding support through grants to the neighborhood events that facilitate the growth and success of women-owned businesses. Who qualifies for this grant program? Neighborhoods and business associations can apply for the program support. The program does not offer direct help to individual women-owned businesses. You have to belong to an association to access the program benefits. For more details, please visit https://www.stpete.org/assistance/grants_and_contracts/docs/Neighborhood%20Mini-grant%20Program%20Application%2010.pdf.
Neighborhood Partnership Matching Grants
These grants are designed to support the projects that focus on the improvement and revitalization of the neighborhoods, including women-owned businesses. The neighborhoods and women-owned businesses can apply for these matching grants. The grants are designed to foster partnerships between companies and other organizations to improve the condition of the neighborhoods and also to grow the local economy. Want to apply? Well, visit https://www.stpete.org/assistance/grants_and_contracts/docs/Neighborhood%20Matching%20Grant.pdf for more details.
Youth Development Grant Program
The Youth Development Grant Program was launched as part of the Mayor’s Office Initiative, My Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper. The goal of the program is to provide education, training, and other opportunities to encourage youth development. As part of youth development, the program supports the growth of young female entrepreneurs by helping them start and run successful businesses in the City of S.t Petersburg. For more details, please visit http://www.stpete.org/MBSK.
Grow Smarter Job Creation and Talent Attraction Program
The purpose of this program is to provide funding support to women-owned businesses that have 49 or fewer employees and hire new employees. To qualify for the program assistance, the employees’ salaries must exceed Pinellas County’s average wage. Find out more at https://stpetegreenhouse.com/growsmarter-job-creation-and-talent-attraction-program/.
Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program
The purpose of this program is to ensure equal procurement opportunities to women-owned small businesses in Pinellas County. The program allows the small enterprises to place on the County of Pinellas’ projects, including selling goods and services. bid purchases usually range from $5,000 to $100,000. Who qualifies for the program assistance? to participate in the program, your business must have been in existence for at least 6 months. You must also qualify for SBE certification and your enterprise must be located within Pinellas County. The number of full-time employees in your company should not exceed 50 and your 3-year revenue must be $3 million or less if you’re dealing with selective goods and services. for women-owned businesses dealing with construction services, your 3-year average revenue must not exceed $8 million. For more details about the program requirements, please visit https://www.pced.org/page/sbe.
S.t Petersburg Chamber of Commerce
The S.t Petersburg Chamber of Commerce is committed to supporting the growth and expansion of businesses and attracting new ones by assisting upcoming women entrepreneurs to launch their business ideas. The goal of the chamber is to ensure the economic development of the city of S.t Petersburg and improve the condition of the neighborhoods. Guided by the values; excellence, innovation, inclusivity, accountability, and integrity the Chamber of Commerce ensures that there are resources and equal opportunities for women entrepreneurs’ success in their businesses. The chamber organizes programs and special events to ensure business resources are available for women entrepreneurs. Most of the services include education, training, networking, and marketing opportunities that enable women to achieve their business goals. The chamber also works with other organizations, business districts, and the city of S.t Petersburg to contribute to positive change in the community. Members of the chamber contribute to the success of the Chamber’s initiatives by participating in the workshops, special events, and attending regular meetings.
Entrepreneurial Academy (EA)
The reason behind the establishment of this academy was to help train both upcoming and already existing women entrepreneurs on business ownership. The topics covered include, coming up with a great idea, developing a solid business plan, financial literacy, marketing, and accounting. For more details, please visit http://www.stpete.com/leadership-programs/entrepreneurial-academy/.
S.t Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation (EDC)
EDC is committed to promoting and encouraging the economic prosperity of the City of S.t Petersburg by supporting activities that promote growth, including cultivating entrepreneurial culture. The EDC also works to generate employment opportunities and retain the existing jobs in the City. To create quality jobs for the public, the EDC supports the growth of women-owned businesses. For more details, please visit http://www.stpete.com/economic-development/edc/.